Today’s urban living crunches spaces. We have been there. We know the effort involved in cramming a lot into tiny spaces. Living in an apartment can sometimes dash those dreams of spacious gardens. But here’s the rub.
You don’t need a big space to have a great garden. An awesome garden can flourish in the smallest of space. All it takes is some imagination, few creative techniques, and a well-thought design.
You can make a great balcony garden even if your balcony is one of those tiny ones with barely enough space to stand. It really is about playing with the space, wise plant selection, and using the boundaries to your best advantage. Here are some space-saving solutions to help you make a green heaven out of the underutilised space:
Maximise planting space by creating levels
Making different levels and dividing your garden into sections will create more planting space in your tiny balcony.
You can do this by planting in tiered beds or by adding soil mounds.
A great way to maximise planting space is stacking plants in groups starting from the largest at the back to the small shrubs at the front. You can use stones or lines of grass for a clear division of level and an organised look.
Vertical gardening works wonders
You might not have a large area in your balcony, but you have the height.
Items such as vertical gardens and hanging plants help you make the most of the vertical planes in your small balcony.
Make a living wall or add trellis using bamboo, wire or netting.
Herbs and vines work extremely well for vertical gardens. When watering vertical plants, always target the roots to prevent water and manure wastage you’ll have to bear when watering from the top.
Introducing as much greenery as possible through vertical gardens makes your garden looks lively and interesting.
Clever selection of plants
If you don’t have space for large plants in your balcony garden, there are some great alternatives.
For example, you can plant dwarf bush beans that produce high yields without spreading too much. Plants with an upright growth instead of horizontal growth are ideal for limited space gardens. Choose perennial plants that live for two years or more instead of plants that need annual replacement to save effort and money.
Greens such as lettuce, parsley, coriander or mint that are ‘cut and come again’ can supply you with fresh, green leaves on a regular basis without eating up on your balcony space.
Positioning is the key
A small balcony doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t have furniture or sitting space in your balcony garden.
Movable pieces of furniture work wonders for small outdoor spaces.
Use generously stuffed cushions or bean bags to make a sitting space when your friends drop by for evening tea. When placing pots, position them uniformly in the corner to leave space for chairs.
A small stool that can double up as a side table is a great investment for a small balcony. You can also consider placing a small chest with cushion on the top and convert your balcony garden into your favourite hub for morning coffee
If your balcony is too small to place any furniture, you can still open the doors and let the garden in. This will give your whole room a feel of outdoor space
No balcony? Not a problem!
If your apartment doesn’t come with a balcony and all you have is a window ledge, walkway or slimline balcony, you can still do some gardening in these areas with suitable containers or plants.
Add some hanging plants and some lattice for climbing plants in the adjoining plant for more greenery. You can also opt for container gardening and use your stairways and courtyards to add more greenery to your home.
Get creative, and you will be amazed at how much you can do with your balcony garden. Unlike large spaces, maintaining a balcony garden is easy and effortless. It allows you to create a little paradise oasis that will make you realize that when it comes to balcony gardens, size really doesn’t matter. Happy gardening!
This article was originally published on www.thehindu.com
